July 16 - Albion Basin Summer road (LCC)

 Sunny morning with temps heading to 104 degrees today.

Decided to get a longer hike with more elevation in this morning by walking the Alta Summer Road. The road is not yet open for car so it should be a nice quiet 1.9 mile walk. I'm looking forward to seeing what the flower status is and hopefully see some butterflies.

I arrive just after 7am. Many more cars parked this morning than 2 weeks ago - probably because there is far less snow on the ground.

I start up the road which is still in the shade as the sun is not over the mountains yet. That's good for keeping cool but not good for seeing butterflies.

Along the first stretch, there is still water alongside the road. I'm finding lots of Columbine and a few White Bog Orchids.

The 2nd stretch yields more Columbine and Orchid along with fluffy willow buds and a singing bird.

Rounding the corner for the final long stretch, I'm now seeing summer flowers not a lot of them. It's still mostly just lots of green vegetation.

I'm still in the shade as I continue up the road. I'm scanning the uphill and the downhill for any type of critter.

Hey, there's a lone deer!!

I manage to walk right past without spooking the deer; she just watches me go by.

Farther up, I see a baby Marmot in the rocks on the side of the road.

Still farther up, I spot another baby Marmot.

Oh, there's Mom! I only get a quick look at her.

And there's another baby crossing the road!!

I reach snow on the side of the road just before the parking lot - so pretty!

I reach the parking lot and head up the Catherine's Pass trail for 30-50 feet. Here is a sampling of the flowers in bloom.

I just want to get a better view of Devil's Castle.

I really want to continue up to the Pass but I'm still restricted/not released from the doctor (1.5 weeks left) so I'll be good for another week.

I head over to the parking lot for a quick look-see.

Time to head down and back to my car.

Back at the car, I head over to the Wildcat Parking lot to look for butterflies along the 1/2 mile road to the ski lift.

I'm seeing Swallowtails around the parking lot/and road.

I start up the trail but its really dry.

I do see a Painted Lady but the rare wet spots are butterfly free. But it's only 9:30 in the morning. I decide to turn around before the end.

On the way back to the car, I see a Mourning Cloak.

Good day!

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